Liquid treating apparatus



Aug. 7', 1934. v, A. ROHLIN 1,969,278

LIQUID TREAT ING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

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4W. .F9 'Ml' vlP'IZJIl l. Z Il y A\ A" f7 f' 4 Q' L n4 Ahr3 JV@ M IN VEN TOR. l//c Taf 4 Hohe /N ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1934. v. A. RoHLlN LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 24. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 22;4

INVENTOR. Mc 70,? fan/nv BY g1 IMM ATTORNEY 1,969,278 LIQUID TBEATING APPARATUS Victor A. Roblin, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Cochrane Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ot Pennsylvani Application May 24, 1932, Serial No. 613,213

10 Claims.

The present inventioncornprises improvements Vin liquid treating apparatus and particularly in steam and Water contact apparatus such as that used in heating and degasifying liquids. One

i general object of the invention is to provide improved fiuid spray apparatus and another and more specic general object of the invention is the provision of improved means for bringing the liquid into contact withv the vapor of the liquid which thereby liberates gases previously held in solution in the liquid. The invention in the form illustrated was primarily devised and is especially7 adapted for use in heating and deaerating water to be used as boiler feed water or for other -purposes for which hot water practically free from' oxygen is required or desirable.

In water heating and deaerating apparatus heretofore developed and in use it is and has been customary to pass the water in film like and broken streams over a superimposed set of trays located in a space into which steam for heating and deaerating water is admitted. Under the more usual conditions of operation trays, used as described, form practically effective and desirable means for eecting the desired steam 'and water contact. In some cases, however, as in marine service the use of trays is objectionable because of the weight and the bulkof the apparatus necessarily resulting from their use. vIn some cases also the. emciency of the ordinary tray means for eiecting steam and water contact is impaired by imperfectl distribution of water on the trays, such as may result from the movement of a ship in `which the heating and deaerating apparatus is employed, and such as may result from substantial deposits on the tray of impurities contained in the Water treated, when the latter contains considerable amounts of impurities precipitated from the water and collecting on the trays.

In a copending application for patent, Serial No. 556,738, filed August 13, 1931 jointly. by

George H. Gibson and myself water heating and deaerating apparatus is disclosed in which the more usual tray arrangements are dispensed with and the desired liquid and vapor contact action is secured by discharging the water in a multiplicity of jets into a steam space into a lower portion of which the steam used in heating and deaerating the Water is discharged into a jet subjecting the water to an atomizing action made effective by baille means interposed between the water and steam jet levels and diverting the falling water into suitable proximity to the steam jet or jets. 1

(Cl. BB1-23) The present invention comprises improvements on apparatus of the type disclosed in said copending application devised with the primary objects of insuring a desirable uniformity of water jet discharge even under such ,adverse conditions as may be experienced on a ship in heavy weather, and with the object of simplifying and improving the water collecting means employed to pass the falling water linto proper contact with the atomizing steam jet or jets and 35 which also serve to guide the steam flow in the apparatus.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of 4embodiment of my invention now w known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes maybe made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as s'et forth ,in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation mainly in section, and 90- Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away and in section.

In the drawings I have illustrated the use of my improvements in a water heating and deaerating device A especially devised and adapted for marine use, but not necessarily limited to such use. As shown the device A comprises a casing or housing having a main lower body portion of rectangular outline and an upper or dome portion A' curving circularly .about the central 90A;

vertical axis of the device, but it is to be understood that .the general form of the casing is not an essential feature of the invention. As will become apparent, however, 'it is desirable that the upper portion of the steam space within the i casing, and particularly that the portion of said space within the dome portion A' should be symmetrical about a vertical axis. As shown the casing portion A' is formed with a central top opening A2 surrounded by an uprising flange 100 A3, which forms a seat for the circumferential flange portion B of a structure B, the flange B being secured against the flange A3 by bolts C.

In the preferred construction illustrated, the structure B is formed with a water inlet passage D comprising a horizontal portion connected at its inner end to the upper end of a depending portion. The outer end of the passage D is surrounded by a ilange -132 for connection to a water supply pipe which is not shown. The depending let vent passage for air liberated in the device `A. An external vent condenser (not shown) such as is usually employed in water heating and deaerating apparatus whenv conditions make it desirable to condense steam from the air steam mixture leaving the'deaerating apparatus, may be connected to the flange B4.

'I'he tubular portion B3 is provided at its lower end with a flange B5 from which is suspended a water distributing head or casing F. The

latter is formed with a multiplicity of valved outlet ports F. As shown there are eight such outlet ports distributed symmetrically about the axis of the head F and structure B. As shown, a valve seat member F2 is mounted in each outlet opening F'. Each valve seat member F2 is formed with a spider portion forming a guide for the stem f' of a corresponding valve f. Each valve seat member F2 is also formed with a conical valve seat, and each valve f is formed with a conical valve seat engaging surface. In consequence the discharge past each valve f when the latter is not fully closed is in the form of a conical sheet of water. With a substantially constant Water supply pressure in the passage D, the thickness of the conical sheet of water discharged and the volume of discharge through each outlet F', will vary through wide limits in accordance with the extent to which the corresponding valve f is opened. Advantageously and as shown, the axis of the conical discharge through each outletlies in a plane radial to the axis of the vertical portion of the passage D, and is upwardly inclined, so that the water discharged impinges against the top Wall of the dome A' and against the hereinafter mentioned vertical cylindrical flange or baille K.

In accordance with the present invention the various valves f are caused to have similar opening and closing movements and similar positions relative to their respective valve seats at all times, so that the volumes and velocities of discharge through the. different outlet ports are approximately equal at all times, even though the device A ismounted in a ship and the latter is pitching and rolling. l

The means shown for causing the different valves f to have similar movements toward and away from their seats` comprise van individual operating lever G for, andhaving one arm connected to the stem f of each valve f. Each lever G is pivotally mounted on a spider or support in the spray head casing F and has a second arm extending radially inward toward the axis of the head. The inner ends of the levers G are rounded and are received between spaced apart flange portions G2 carried by an axially disposed and axially movable plunger G'. The latter has a bearing for its upper portion in a spider member F3 and has a bearing for its lower end in a socket portion F4 of the head F. 'Ihe plunger G' is connected by a link G3 to an arm H carried by a horizontal rock shaft H journalled in the side walls of the upper horizontal portion of the passage D.

An externally projecting end of the shaft H carries a crank arm H2 connected to a valve loading mechanism which is shown as comprising a link I-I3 connected at one end to-the free end of the arm H2 and/having a spring follower or abutment nut H4 threaded on its other end. A helical spring H5 surrounds the link H3 and extends between the abutment nut H4 and an abutment bracket B6 carried by the structure B. The pressure of the water acting on the inner sides of the valves f and tending to move those valves away from their seats is opposed by the tension of the spring H5. That tension may be adjusted by turning the nut I-l4 in one direction or the other about the threaded portion of the link H3; v

The water discharged from the spray head ultimately strikes upon a conical baille I provided with a central discharge` opening I' at its lower endv and terminating at its upper edge in a cylindrical flange I2 smaller in diameter than the dome portion A of the casing and spaced away from the latter. As shown the baille I is formed of metal plate and is supported by plate like ribs J welded at their inner edges to the outer side of the cylindrical portion I2,of the baille I and Welded at their outer edges to the side Wall of the dome A'. y I'he roof of the latter is provided with a depending cylindrical baille K of smaller diameter than 4the cylindrical portion I2 of the baille I. The lower edge of the baille K is spaced away from the baille I, but is located at a level below that of the upper edge of the baille portion I2.' The baille K prevents the water discharge through the orifices F from entering the space between the baille portion I2 and the surrounding wall of the dome A', but does not interfere with the hereinafter described flow of steam. upward along the underside of the conical portion. of the baille I and over the upper edge of the baille portion I2 into the space traversed by the jets of water discharged through the orices I'. To prevent 'undesirable movement of the water over the baiile I inv a circumferential direction and to prevent the accumulation of an undue amount of water on one portion of the baille, bailles L are radially disposed in the space above the baille I. These bailles advantageously fit against and are welded to the upper side of the conical portion of the baffle I and to the inner side of the baille portion I2, and extend upward into proximity with the dome A' to which they may or may not be connected in a suitable manner, as by spot welding. Advantageously and as shown each baille L comprises a portion L3 extending upward at the outer side of the baille K to the level of the upper edge of the baille portion I2. To avoid expansion diiculties and facilitate assemblage the bales L are advantageously shaped to provide clearance between their adjacent edges and the baffle K. At its inner edge each baille L is advantageously provided with a transverse portion L2 forming ribs extending laterally away from thebaitle at each side of the latter. Each portion L2 may be a bent bar of metal welded to the inner edge of the body portion of the corresponding baille L. Each adjacent pair of bailles L form the side walls of a water heating and deaerating chamber or outwardly into proximity with the margin of the central bottom opening I' in the bafflev I, so that all of the water is brought into proper relation with the steam atomizing means now to be described.

Steam is supplied to the device A through external piping, not shown, connected to the flanged outer end of a tubular steam conduit M extending through the side wall of the body portion of the casing of the device A adjacent the top of said side wall. The conduit M is connected at its end to, and discharges steam into an atomizing valve casing N which as shown has a circular discharge opening at its upper side symmetrically disposed with respect to the vertical axis of the apparatus. This discharge opening is surrounded by a valve seat member n mounted on the .valve body N. The valve seat member n is formed at its upper side with a valve seat n in the form of a conical annulus surrounding the axis of the apparatus. Advantageously and as shown the conical angle of the seat n' is slightly more acute than the angle of the conical portion of the baille I. 'I'he valve seat n is at the inner side of and slightly above the inner edge of the upper side of a conical flange portion n2 of the valve seat member n. The diameter of the outer edge of the seat n is appreciably smaller, but the diameter of the upper and outer edge portion of the ange n2 is somewhat greater, than the diameter of the central opening I of the baille I. In consequence the flange nzfforms the outer wall of a sort of annular trough in position to receive the water running down the upper side of the baffle and passing downward through the opening I'.

Associated with the valve seat 1L' is a lvalve member N' of inverted cup shape having a conical seat engaging surface N2 adapted to engage the seat n'. The valve member N is carried ,by a depending valve stem N3 extending downward through an opening in the\bottom wall of the casing, a stufling box 11.3 being provided to prevent leakage of steam downward along the stem N3. The upper portion of the stem N3 has a guide bearing N4 carried by a. spider portion n4 of the valve seat member.

The valve N' is loaded or biased towards its closed position by means of a rock shaft 0 journalled in the casing of the device A and provided within the latter with a crank arm 0' connected byva link O2 to the lower end of the valve stem N1. Externally of the casing of the device A the shaft O carries a lever O3 to one arm of which a spring abutment member O4 isy pivotally connected. The' abutment O4 engages the lower end of a helical spring P which is compressed between that abutment and an upper abutment Q having a stem Q' threaded through a bracket A4 carried by the outer wall of the housing body of the device A. The tension of the spring P and thereby the loading force on the valve Nf, may be varied by rotating the stem Q in its threaded bracket support. 'Iihe second arm of the lever 03 carries an adjustable counterweight R which approximately balances the weight of the valve N so that the action of the loading spring P is not significantly modied by the weight of the valve, or, in marine service, by any tendency of the valve to move toward and away from its seatA as a result of ship movements. In this connection it is noted that the plunger G and associated parts may readily be proportional to substantially counterbalance the water distribution valves f.

In the normal intended operation of the apparatus described, the loading force acting on the steam supply valve N is so adjusted relative to the conditions of operation as to insure an adequate and approximately constant linear velocity of steam jet discharge under all loads. 'Ihe conical sheet of steam dischargedbetween the seat n.2 and the valve seat engaging portion N2 of the valve member N' impnges against the water passing downward through the opening I and subjects the latter .to an atomizing action. In large part the water is subjected to said atomizing action4 and is swept outward into the space surrounding the flange n2 Without-coming into contact with the latter. Any water collecting on the ange n2 is subjected to an atomizing action and swept off the ange by the steam jet. The bulk of the water passing downward through the opening I' will pass downwardly through the portion ofthat opening adjacent its margin, in part because of the deiiecting action of the ribs L, the lower ends of which surround and are spaced away from' the upper portion of the valve N.A Any water falling on the top of the valve N' and running down the'cylindrical side of the latter, eventually passes directly linto the path of the steam discharged through the space between the valve seat n' and the valve seat engaging portion N2 of the valve.

The steam sweeps upward along and in contact with the underside of the baille I and thence passes around the upper edge of the baille portion I2 and is deflected downwardly against the upper side of the conical side of the baille by the baille K and thence passes out into the chambersyor compartments separated by the baiiies L and traversed by the water jets discharged through the different orices F. The passage of the steam along the baiiie I gives the latter a highly eilicient tray heating andv deaerating action, both because of the movement of the. steam along the water lms'or streams on the upper side of the baille I and by heating the underside of the bae.

As will be apparent from what has been previously said, the spray head device F with its valves f supplies the proper proportion oi'v the total amount oi water treated to each oi the diierent chambers or compartments between the different pairs of bames L, and insures a jet velocity of discharge under all loads adequate for the proper distribution of the water intre= duced into the diierent chambers or compartments. If the apparatus is operated, as will normally be the case, with a water supply pressure automatically increasing as required to force the water into the heating and deaerating apparatus as rapidly as it becomes available, the loading and control means acting on the different valves f will insure the proper jet velocity of discharge through each orifice li" at light loads as well as at heavy loads. With normal er usual steam and water supply pressure and temperature conditions, the amount of steam required for a given heating and deaerating eect necessarily varies in approximate accordance with the amount of water supplied. `Under such conn ditions when the water supply .to the device .A increases, the increased steam condensing capacity o the water tends to create a drop in steam pressure in the device A. This by reducing the back pressure on the valve N causes the latter Mil to open more widely and thereby tends to correspondingly increase the rate of steam supply to the heater. Conversely when the water supply diminishes, the pressure in the device A tends to rise thereby increasing the back pressure on the valve N' and causing a partial closing movement of the latter. In consequence the valve N thus tends to open and .close as required to maintain an approximately constant pressure in the steam space in the device A and a rate of steam supply approximately proportional to the rate of water supply.

A special advantage of the construction described is that the structure B is'a- .unitary mechanical structure which can be assembled and adjusted prior to its mounting in the device A and can be removed from the latter when necessary for inspection, cleaning, repairs or adjustment both of the component parts of the structure B and of the apparatuswithin the upper portion of the device A.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in thel form of the apparatus Adisclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding 'use of other features.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In water and steam contact apparatus, the combination with a housing enclosing a steam space comprising a central portion and a series of compartments surrounding said space, of a water spray head located in said central portionr and having a separate jet `outlet opening for and delivering water into each of said compartments, and means for supplying steam to said space.

2. In waterand steaml contact apparatus, the combination with a housing enclosing a steam space comprising a central portion and a series of compartments surrounding said central portion, of a water spray head located in said central portion and having a separate jet outlet opening for and delivering water into each of said compartments, valves controlling the different outlets and tending to open underthe pressure of the liquid in said' spray head and controlling means connecting said valves compelling proportional movements of the valves toward and away from their seats and means for supplying steam to said space.

3. In water and steam contact apparatus, the' `combination with a housing enclosing a steam spacecomprising a central portion and a series of compartments surrounding said central portion, of a water spray head locatedinosaid central portion and having a separate jet outlet opening for and delivering water into each of said compartments, valves controlling the different outlets and tending to open under the pressure of the liquid in said spray head, controlling means connected to said valves compelling proportional movementsof the valves toward and away from their seats and including means subjecting the valves to a yielding loading force opposing the tendency of the valves to open under said pressure, 'and means supplying steam to said space.

4. A unitary water spray structure having a water inlet, and a multiplicity of spray-outlets and a separate movable valve member -for each of said outlets regulating the jet discharge through the latter and having a tendency to open under the pressure of the water sprayed, linkage means mounted in said structure and compelling the different valve membersr to.V have deiinitely proportional opening and ,closing movements and means acting on the first mentioned means to subject said valve members to a yielding loading force opposing the said tendency of the valves to open.

5. A unitary water spray structure having av water inlet and a multiplicity of spray outlets, a separate movable valve member for each outlet regulating the jet discharge through the latter and having a tendency to open under the pressure of the water sprayed, and means for causing said valve members to have deiinitely proportional opening and closing Amovements and for subjecting the latter to loading forces opposing the said tendency comprising a rock shaft mounted in said unit, loading means tending to rotate the rock shaft in one direction, and operating connections between said shaft and-the di'erent valves through which the movements of each valve is positively related to the movements of each other valvevand to the movements of said rock shaft. l

f 6. In water and steam contact apparatus, the combination with a housing. enclosing a steam space comprising a central portion and a plurality of compartments surrounding said space and having bottom walls inclined to pass water to said central space, of water spray means located in said central space and discharging water jets into the different compartments, and means for subjecting the water pass'- ing downward from said bottom walls to the action of said steamand for causing the latter to pass upwardly along the undersides of said bottom walls and into said compartments at the outer edges of the latter.

7. In steam and water contact, the combination with a casing of a partition within said casing formed with a central aperture and upwardly inclined from said aperture, partitions dividing the space labove said partitions into a series of compartments surrounding a. central portion above said aperture, water spraymeans in said central space portion discharging water into the' different compartments andv steam spray means located belowk said aperture and discharging steam -outwardly past the margin of said aperture along the underside of said partitions, said compartments communicating with and receiving steam from the space 'beneath said partition adjacent the periphery o the latter. Y

8. A unitary water spray'structure comprising a tubular body with a head portion atone Q end. of said body, said head portion being formed with a water inlet opening into said lbody and with an air outlet opening with a portion sur-l 140 rounding said body but separated therefrom by a space from which said outlet opens and with a flange carried by -said portion and adapted .to seat at the margin -of an aperture in the wall voi a water heating and deaerating space'145 controlling means vincluding adjustablevalve loading means external to but mounted on said head portion, and a connection between said valves and loading means extending in an axial direction through said body.

9. In steam and water contact apparatus a. housing enclosing a steam space, a partition dividing said space into upper and lower portions and formed with a central aperture and upwardlyv inclined from said aperture and with its upper and outer edge adjacent but spaced away from said casing, water spray means discharging water into said upper space portion, and a centrally located steam spray valve discharging steam outwardly across the path of water passing downward from the margin of said aperture and along the underside of said partition, said steam passing upwardly past the upper edge of said partition into the upper portion of said steam space.

10. In steam and water contact apparatus a said aperture and along the under side of said partition said steam passing upwardly past the Vupper edge of said partition, and a vertical depending baiiie with its lower edge spaced above saidpartition but beneaththe upper edge o1' the latter for deecting the steam passing upwardly past the last mentioned edge toward the subjacent portion of the upper side of said partition.

VICTOR A. ROI-IHN.

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